Funnel for molten explosives



June 27, 1944. T. F. KNIGHT ET AL FUNNEL FOR MOLTEN EXPLOSIVES Filed Dec. 17, 1942 W; W a m e M a M w 4 E 7 ml u 6 2 m -I a 2 I l -I 2 m a F F P TM 2 w x w 5. C 4 w. 6 M 1 11! -1 l2 & I wa m .4 2 3 m l a Patented June 27, 1944 FUNNEL FOR MOLTEN ExPLosIvEs Thomas F. Knight, Rockaway, and Frederick E. Tregenza, Kenvil, N. J.

Application December 1942, Serial No. 469,343. 1

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 4 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to the loading of explosive shells, more particularly, of the type provided with a threaded mouth into which the fuse is screwed and with a cavity formed in the body of inert explosive material for receiving the booster or other detonating agent. In loading shells of the character described it has been the practice heretofore to fill the shell with molten inert material and after the same had cooled to sufficient hardness, to drill or otherwise machine the booster cavityinto the body of inert material. One of the prime objects of this invention is to provide for the formation of the booster cavity simultaneously with the loading of the shell. This is achieved by a novel form of funnel. Allied with this object, a further object is to devise the novel form of funnel in a manner to protect the shell threads during the pouring operation, so as to obviate the need of subsequent remachining or cleaning.

It is necessary that the bottom of the booster cavity be faced or machined to a smooth surface. This has been done heretofore by the use of drills or other facing tools. A second prime object of this invention is to implement the novel funnel of this invention-adapted, as aforementioned, to form the booster cavity simultaneously with the loading operation-with means for facing the bottom of the cavity at, or preparatory to, the removal of the novel funnel.

For the attainment of these and such other objects of invention as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, we have shown one embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates the improved funnel;

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the improved funnel shown in position in a shell, during the loading thereof;

Fig. 4 illustrates the lower portion of the funnel with the surfacing blade and its holding ring removed; and

Fig. 5 shows the surfacing blade.

The improved funnel ID has the usual tapered portion II and is provided with shoulder l2 by which the funnel rests on, and is centered in, the shell I. The funnel has a longer-than-usual spout portion l3 extending through the threaded mouth 2 and the smooth throat 3 of the shell. Spout portion l3 of the funnel is made longer than would be required merely for conducting the molten inert material into the shell, for the purpose of providing means for forming the booster cavity simultaneously with the loading operation. For this purpose the lower portion of the spout is extended a distance depending upon the required depth of the booster cavity. It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the outside diameter of the core portion I4 of the spout is such that this portion fits snugly in the throat 3 of the shell; the purpose of this snug fit is to prevent the molten inert material from passing between core Id of the spout and throat 3 of the shell and from reaching and contaminating threads After placing the improved funnel in loading relation to the shell, as shown in Fig. 3, molten explosive is poured into the shell through the funnel to a height slightly below the funnel top, the object being to provide a sufiicient head or riser to eliminate cavitations during solidifications. After solidification the funnel is struck a sharp blow with a mallet to break off the riser column of hardened inert material and permit removal of the funnel, the break occurring at or near the bottom of the spout, more particularly, at the bottom or mouth of the core portion l4 thereof. By reason of the aforedescribed core [4, there will be provided, after solidification, a booster cavity of the required diameter and depth.

The bottom surface of the cavity, however, is in a rough condition because of the nature of the break caused, as just described, between the funnel riser and the body of solid explosive material. This surface must then be drilled or otherwise faced to a smooth condition.

As pointed out in the statement of invention, the second prime object of this invention is to implement the funnel with means for facing the bottom surface of the booster cavity. For this purpose the core portion H of the spout is provided with a slot ill, see Fig. 4, within which is received knife 20 (shown itself in Fig. 5, and in position in the funnel in Figs. 2 and 3). For the purpose of holding knife or cutter 20 securely in place, an annular groove I6 is provided encircling the core portion Id of the spout near its mouth, and adapted to receive a spring snap ring 36. The cutter 20 is provided with a slotted recess 26 at each end. Fig. 5, adapted when the cutter is positioned in the funnel, to align with the annular groove l6 of the funnel and to receive snap ring 36. The lower edge of cutter 20 is beveled to form a pair of oppositely facing cutting edges 2|. Preparatory. to withdrawing the funnel, but subsequently to the breaking oil of the rise (as above described) thefunnel is rotated one or more turns to cause the cutter 20, more accurately, its pair of cutting edges 2|, to face the bottom surface of the booster cavity to a smooth iin' l We claim: I.- ,l' L

1. A device for loading explosive shells of the bod of inert explosive and smoothing its bottom and the outer surface of the spout portion being provided near its edge with a circumferential groove, a cutter provided with a bevelled cutting edge adapted to'b'e received in the said pair of type provided with an internally threaded fuserlQ mouth and for forming a booster cavity in the surface, comprising a funnel?providedqwitha spout portion extending beyond the saidiishell-m threads, the outside diameter, of the spout below,

the said threads beingvadapted to"s'nugl'y fit in the throat of the shell whereby the moltenrexe; j

plosive is prevented from reaching thevsaid shell threads, the lower portion of thefispout bein'g adapted by diameter and length to form the booster cavity in the said molten explosive, the bottom edge of .the said .spout rportion .being provided with,-,a pairof 1diametrical opposed slots, and the outer surface. of,- the spout portion being providednear :its edge with a, circumferential groove acutter adaptedto be received'in the said slots and provided with a pair of end slots aligned with the said spout groove, and a snap ring adapted-torfit intthe said-spout: groovegand cutter slots toi'hold.the'cutter-1in= plac ea i 3. A device for loading explosive shells of the type provided with 'an internally threaded fuse mouth and 'for' forming a booster cavity in the body of inertexplosive and smoothing its bottom surface comprising-a funnel provided with a spoutlportion, the lower portion of the spout being adapted bydiameter and length to form the bo'oster cavity-in the said molten. explosive, the bottom edge of the said spout portion being provided with a pair of diametrical opposedslots, andthe outersurface of the spout portion being groove, a cutter adapted to be received in thegsaid pair of slots and provided with apair of end slots threads, .the outsidediameter ofthe spout below the said threads beingadapted to snugly fitin the throat of the shellw'hereby-the moltenexplosive is prevented from reaching the said shell 2 threads, the ;lower portion of the spout being adapted. by diameter andJength tot form--the boosterpavity in thevsaid molten explosive, ithe bottomedgeof the saidspout portion being provided with apair-of diametrical-gopposed slots,

provided near" its edge witha circumferential pair of -slotsand provided-with a. pairof end slots aligned with the said,spoutgroqve, and -a snap ring adapted to fit in the sai'd. spout groove and cutter slots to hold the butter ,in place.

41', A device for mailing -explosive,shells ofthe type provided ,withfang internally threaded fuse mouth and for-forming'a booster cavity inthe 'bodyof inert explosive and smoothing-its bottom surface; comprising a funneL provided .with 'a spout portion extending beyond the saidshell threads, 2 the outside diameter, of the, spout below the said threads being adapted ;,to snugly fit in the throat of the ShGIL WhBI'GbY thQ molten;,explosive is prevented from reaching; the, said shell threads, the lower portion of ..the 'spoutr being adapted by diameter-andlength to; fOYmIhEZ booster cavity in thesaidmolten explosive the bottom edge of the said spout portion beingprovided with a pairrof die-metrical: opposed slots, a single cutter. adapted to be received in-the, said pairof slot-sand means for retaining the cutter in ,thesaidslots the lower, edge of thecutter being bevelled to, fo rmia pair of: oppositely facing cutting edges. A. H

FREDERICK E. I REG,ENZA.-,

,. THOMAS ELKNIGHT. 2 

